Splash protector/shower curtain attachments

ABSTRACT

A splash guard for preventing water spray from the shower head from wetting the floor. The splash guard has a substantially vertical member and slanted member that attaches to the vertical member via a substantially horizontal base member. The shower curtain is secured to the vertical member, which also assists in the prevention of water spray from wetting or reaching the bathroom floor.

[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority from thepreviously filed provisional application filed on Mar. 10, 2003, havingSer. No. 60/453,091 and titled: SPLASH PROTECTOR AND BATHTUB/SHOWERSTALL ATTACHMENTS FOR SHOWER STALL HAVING MULTIMEDIA DISPLAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to splash guards and means to attach ashower curtain to the splash guard or to the shower stall or bathroomtub itself.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Water mildew in and around bathrooms is a seemingly never-endingproblem. Water mildew is annoying and the damage therefrom can becomequite expensive. The smell from mildew would be bad enough, but seriousillnesses have occurred due to problems with mildew, therefore the watermildew could be a sign of a more serious problem. If water sits in aspecific place for a prolonged period of time, the floor can becomeweakened and lose its structural integrity. This can result in waterleakage down towards the rooms or space below the bathroom or showerstall. The water leakage can sometimes cause serious damage to spacebelow the bathroom, such damage sometimes going undetected for years. Asthe structural damage to the floor increases, the possibility of acollapse increases. So it can be seen that water mildew causes troublesranging from the merely annoying bad smell to the serious structuraldamage of a weakened bathroom floor.

[0006] The initial source of the water mildew in many cases comes fromthe seemingly innocuous spray of water from the shower. Not only are theabove mentioned problems caused by water spray but also injury due toslipping from water collected on the bathroom floor. It is foreseeablethat injury due to slipping and falling because of excess water on thefloor could result in enormous medical bills and insurance increases. Soit has become evident that the relatively harmful spray from the showeris the chief cause of problems ranging from bad odors, structural damageand possible personal injury. The prevention of the water spray fromreaching the bathroom floor is the best and most logical way ofpreventing the damage.

[0007] Splash guards have been described in the patent literature. Forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,791,696 issued to Alexander, 1,971,802 issuedto Zechiel, 3,984,880 issued to Schrameyer, 4,620,332 issued to Laird,4,888,835 issued to Baumann, 5,222,261 issued to Tooze et al., 5,493,738issued to Sanderson et al., 5,978,985 issued to Thurman, 6,035,461issued Nguyen, 6,195,816 issued to Glassman, 6,341,388 issued toRoberts, Switzerland Pat. No. 197806 issued to Strittmatter and FrenchPat. No. 2,544,976 all describe devices useful in preventing water sprayfrom a shower reaching the bathroom floor. These patents all endeavor toprevent shower splash but lack in some way the teaching of the instantinvention. For instance, some of the patents only describe shower guardsthat prevent water from escaping between the shower curtain and theshower wall, others attach to a bathtub and not the short wall of ashower stall, still others are not easily removable from the short wallof a shower stall and none have graphics that will make the bathtub timemore enjoyable for children and adults.

[0008] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly orin combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention relates to a splash guard for the short wall of ashower stall or the bathtub that is easily removable from the tub and isdimensioned and configured to have a first wall, a base member and asecond wall wherein the two walls and the base member form a channelsuch that the channel is slanted to allow captured water spray to runback into the shower stall. The splash guard is attached to the innerside of the short wall of the shower stall or tub. The splash guard hasa generally vertical first member that is secured close to the shortwall and which rises above the short wall. Hereafter, the term shortwall shall refer to the shower stall or bathtub and the terms shortwall, shower stall or bathtub are interchangeable. The shower curtaincan be attached in numerous ways to the first member, including but notlimited to magnetically, clamps or snap buttons. There are alsoalternative embodiments to the invention that will be disclosed later.There is, therefore, a need for a splash guard that protects thebathroom floor from the shower splash wherein the splash guard has meansto secure the shower curtain thereto.

[0010] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to providea splash guard that prevents shower splash from reaching the bathroomfloor.

[0011] Still another object of the invention is to provide a splashguard that is dimensioned and configured to prevent shower splash fromreaching the bathroom floor.

[0012] It is again an object of the invention to provide a splash guardthat has means to attach the shower curtain to the splash guard.

[0013] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

[0014] These and other objects of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a right side view of the preferred embodiment.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a front view of the third embodiment.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a front view of a fourth embodiment.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a front view of a fifth embodiment.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a right side view of a fifth embodiment.

[0023]FIG. 9 is a front view of the sixth embodiment.

[0024]FIG. 10 is a right side view of the sixth embodiment.

[0025]FIG. 11 is a right side view of a seventh embodiment.

[0026] Similar reference characters denote corresponding featuresconsistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The invention relates to a splash guard dimensioned andconfigured to be removably placed upon the short wall of a shower stallor bathtub. The splash guard prevents water from escaping the showerstall or bathtub and landing on the bathroom floor thereby preventingpotential mildew while simultaneously providing entertainment via agraphical display. Water is prevented from escaping the shower stall orbathtub by incorporating within the splash guard elements that willfacilitate the capture and redirection of shower splash before suchsplash hits the bathroom floor.

[0028] The shower curtain can be attached to the splash guard a numberof ways. One attachment option is to attach a channel (or curtainholder) to the first member wherein the channel is dimensioned andconfigured to receive a guide which is located on the shower curtain.The guide or male member fits securely within the channel or femalemember, is then slid down the length of the channel or curtain holderuntil it reaches the end. At this moment or position the curtain issecurely held by the curtain holder. Another attachment option is toattach the curtain to the splash guard via snap buttons. One snap buttonis placed on the splash guard whereas the corresponding snap button issecured onto the shower curtain. Yet a third option considers placing apivotal rod upon the first member. This option is used by pivoting therod into an open position, sliding the curtain between the rod and thefirst member and then closing the rod. The closed rod can be securedinto place by either using magnets or by having the rod have a rigidpivot mechanism wherein the rod, once moved, stays in place untilphysically moved again.

[0029] Turning now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2, splash guard 10 isshown having a first member 12 which is substantially vertical, a secondmember 14 which is slanted towards the shower stall or bathtub and abase member 20 which is substantially horizontal. A curtain holder 16 isattached to the inside face of first member 12. Curtain holder 16 isdimensioned and configured to receive a corresponding male member (notshown) that is attached to the shower curtain. The user places thecorresponding male member within the slot of the curtain holder 16, thenslides the curtain to the end of the curtain holder 16, thereforesecuring the curtain in place (the guide or male member may or may notbe collapsible).

[0030] Turning now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, an alternative method ofattaching the curtain to the first member 12 is shown. Attached in apivotal connection 26 is a rod 24 having a first end 28 and a second end30. The first end 28 of rod 24 is secured to first member 12 via pivotconnection 26. A first magnet 32 is attached to first member 12 and asecond magnet 34 is attached to the second end 30 of rod 24. Inoperation, the user slides one end of the curtain between rod 24 andfirst member 12. The user then brings the magnet 34 of rod 24 into closecontact with magnet 32 such that a bond is established between magnets32 and 34 strong enough to hold in place the curtain. In place ofmagnets to hold the rod 24 close to first member 12, the pivotconnection 26 can be designed to automatically pivot towards firstmember 12. In this embodiment the user would pull rod 24 in an outwardmotion away from first member 12, place the curtain between rod 24 andfirst member 12 and then release rod 24 to collapse back to first member12, therefore pinning the curtain between rod 24 and first member 12.

[0031]FIG. 4 discloses yet another way to attach the curtain to firstmember 40. Snap buttons 42 are attached onto first member 40 such thatwhen corresponding snap buttons attached to the curtain are brought intomating relationship with snap buttons 42 then the curtain is securelyattached to first member 40. Although not shown, magnets (or a magneticstrip) could replace the snap buttons 42 wherein one magnet would beplaced on the curtain and its corresponding magnet would be placed onfirst member 40. As with the snap buttons when the two magnets arebrought together than the curtain would be securely attached to thefirst member.

[0032] The curtain holder is disclosed in several embodiments, all ofwhich serve the central function of attaching the curtain to the shortwall in a safe, efficient and inexpensive way. The shower curtain can beattached to the bathtub or short wall in a number of ways. One method ofattachment is to have a curtain holder having hook and loop typefasteners on the top of the curtain holder, suction cups on the bottomfor attachment to the bathtub or shower stall, a handle on one end and ahook for storage on the other end. The shower curtain has attachedthereto the corresponding hook and loop type fasteners. Anotherattachment option is to attach a channel to the bathtub or short wallwherein the channel is dimensioned and configured to receive a guidewhich is located on the shower curtain. The guide or male member fitssecurely within the channel or female member, is then slid down thelength of the channel or curtain holder until it reaches the end. Atthis moment or position the curtain is securely held by the curtainholder to the bathtub or short wall. Another attachment option is toattach the curtain to the bathtub or short wall via snap buttons. Onesnap button is placed on the bathtub or short wall whereas thecorresponding snap button is secured onto the shower curtain. Yet athird option considers placing a pivotal rod upon the bathtub or shortwall. This option is used by pivoting the rod into an open position,sliding the curtain between the rod and the bathtub and then closing therod. The closed rod can be secured into place by either using magnets orby having the rod have a rigid pivot mechanism wherein the rod, oncemoved, stays in place until physically moved again. A similar attachmentoption considers a rod member that is spring loaded and attached to thebathtub or short wall and when the user pulls it away, slides thecurtain between the bathtub and the rod, then releases the rod the rodis forced via the spring loading to clamp down upon the bathtub,therefore securing the shower curtain therebetween.

[0033] Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, curtain holder 10is shown having hook and loop type fasteners 12 with corresponding hookand loop type fasteners on the shower curtain. Suction cups 14 securethe curtain holder to the bathtub or short wall 20. A handle 16 makesfor easy handling by the user and hook 18 allows the curtain holder 10to be hung after use. Now looking at FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings,curtain holder 30 is shown having a channel or female member 32 which isdimensioned and configured to receive a male member or guide 34 that isattached to shower curtain 36. In use, the user simply slides malemember 34 into channel 32 and then slides male member 34 to the oppositeend, therefore securing the shower curtain 36 to the bathtub or showerstall 20. FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 disclose alternate versions of theinvention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 except that here the curtain holder 60does not span the length of the bathtub or short wall. FIGS. 10 and 11show different methods of securing the holder to the bathtub or showerstall. In one method, the curtain holder 60 is secured via adhesives 65to the bathtub or shower stall 20 and in another method, the curtainholder 68 is secured via suction cups 74.

[0034] It is important to note that each of the described embodimentscan be scaled down as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 to be attached atopposite ends of the short wall; excluding the embodiments in FIGS. 1and 2.

[0035] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limitedto the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and allembodiments within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A curtain holder for securing the shower curtain to thebathtub or shower stall (short wall) comprising; means to secure theshower curtain to the curtain holder, means to secure the curtain holderto the bathtub or shower stall.
 2. The curtain holder according to claim1 wherein said means to secure the shower curtain to the curtain holdercomprise hook and loop type fasteners.
 3. The curtain holder accordingto claim 2 wherein said means to secure the curtain holder to the shortwall comprise suction cups.
 4. The curtain holder according to claim 3further comprising a handle and a hook to hang said curtain holderduring periods of non-use.
 5. The curtain holder according to claim 2wherein said means to secure the curtain holder to the short wallcomprise adhesives.
 6. The curtain holder according to claim 1 whereinsaid means to secure the shower curtain to the curtain holder comprise achannel attached to the short wall and a guide attached to the showercurtain.
 7. The curtain holder according to claim 6 wherein said meansto attach said curtain holder to the short wall comprise suction cups.8. The curtain holder according to claim 7 further comprising a handlefor easy removal and a hook to hang said curtain holder during periodsof non-use.
 9. The curtain holder according to claim 6 wherein saidmeans to attach said curtain holder to the bathtub or shower stallcomprise adhesives.
 10. The curtain holder according to claim 1 whereinsaid means to secure the shower curtain to the curtain holder comprise;a rod having a pivot at one end and a first magnet at a second end, asecond magnet attached to the short wall such that upon pivoting the rodabout said pivot forces said first magnet into close contact with saidsecond magnet.
 11. The curtain holder according to claim 10 wherein saidmeans to secure said curtain holder to the short wall comprise suctioncups.
 12. The curtain holder according to claim 11 further comprising ahandle for easy removal and a hook to hang said curtain holder duringperiods of non-use.
 13. The curtain holder according to claim 10 whereinsaid means to attach said curtain holder to the short wall compriseadhesives.
 14. The curtain holder according to claim 1 wherein saidmeans to secure the shower curtain to the curtain holder comprise; a rodhaving a spring loaded pivot at one end such that when said rod is movedin an outward position and then released, said spring loaded pivotforces said rod back into its initial position.
 15. The curtain holderaccording to claim 14 wherein said means to secure said curtain holderto the short wall comprises suction cups.
 16. The curtain holderaccording to claim 15 further comprising a handle for easy removal and ahook to hang said curtain holder during periods of non-use.
 17. Thecurtain holder according to claim 14 wherein said means to secure saidcurtain holder to the short wall comprise adhesives.
 18. The curtainholder according to claim 1 wherein said means to secure said showercurtain to the curtain holder comprise; a snap button attached to theshort wall and a corresponding snap button attached to the showercurtain.
 19. The curtain holder according to claim 18 wherein said meansto secure said curtain holder to the short wall comprise suction cups.20. The curtain holder according to claim 19 further comprising a handlefor easy removal and a hook to hang said curtain holder during periodsof non-use.
 21. The curtain holder according to claim 18 wherein saidmeans to secure said curtain holder to the short wall compriseadhesives.
 22. The curtain holder according to claim 1 wherein saidmeans to secure said shower curtain to the curtain holder comprise; amagnet attached to the short wall and a corresponding magnet attached tothe shower curtain.
 23. The curtain holder according to claim 22 whereinsaid means to secure said curtain holder to the short wall comprisesuction cups.
 24. The curtain holder according to claim 23 furthercomprising a handle for easy removal and a hook to hang said curtainholder during periods of non-use.
 25. The curtain holder according toclaim 22 wherein said means to secure said curtain holder to the shortwall comprise adhesives.